The Smith & The Devil or The Turnip Turpitude

The Smith & The Devil or The Turnip Turpitude

Author: Rachel Mosses October 12, 2021 Duration: 34:41

In which we discover tricking the devil doesn't always work out well, that sometimes in tales there are more turnips than women and that frankly you can pretty much pickle anything. We also learn that tricking people into sacks can be a learning experience and that precious has a lot of definitions.

We also examine the fascinating role of the turnip in history, medicine and folklore as well as its contribution to the culinary arts.

The stories in this episode are adapted from the following: The Turnip Princess from The Turnip Princess And Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales - Franz Xaver von Schonwerth, The Turnip from Grimms' Fairy Tales and The Smith And the Devil from a variety of sources.

The recipe in today's episode is Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips

If you would like to find more information about any of the books or research in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.

You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.  If  you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.


Rachel Mosses hosts Folklore, Food and Fairytales, a podcast that sits at the comfortable, worn-in table where narrative and nourishment meet. Each episode begins with a story-a piece of folklore, a fairytale, or a lesser-known myth-and then delves into the culinary world hidden within its lines. The discussion isn't just about whether the porridge in a tale is symbolic or simply a relatable detail; it's about unearthing the real food history and traditions that those fictional meals echo. You'll hear about the rituals of both eating and storytelling, and how each feeds a different kind of hunger. This podcast naturally explores how recipes are themselves stories passed down, and how the history of a dish can be as compelling as the plot of a legend. Listen for a thoughtful blend of narration and analysis, where a great story is always served with a side of fascinating context, leaving you to ponder the deep, savoury connections between the tales we tell and the food we share.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 50

Folklore, Food and Fairytales
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